Tamper-Proof Irrigation Box

ABSTRACT

A tamper-proof irrigation box is formed in a truncated four-sided pyramid shape with the sides tapering outwardly from the top to the bottom. A horizontal flange extends outwardly around the base. A metal lid has a sliding pin type lock operated by a key having a metal horizontal pin or bolt that extends perpendicularly into a horizontal hole in the side of the box. The metal lid also has a tamper-proof hinge.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to underground enclosures for irrigation valve controls and particularly to a tamper-proof irrigation box buried in the ground with the top of the box a ground level; the irrigation box comprises a boxlike base assembly with a base flange on the lower exterior perimeter thereof to prevent removal of base assembly from the ground, a lid for protecting the valve controls, and a key-operated lock which secures the lid in a closed, tamper-proof position.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

Water or irrigation lines are located at a depth underground sufficient to prevent freezing: i.e. below the frost line. Valves which are located on a fluid line underground require an access means. This is typically provided by what is simply and commonly known as a box. These boxes generally extend upward above the valve to ground level and have a removable cover. Covers for the boxes ensure continuity of the ground so that people, animals and vehicles do not fall into the boxes, and also to control access to the utilities.

Prior art irrigation boxes are subject to destruction and removal by being pulled out of the ground, primarily due to vandalism. Vandals were using rocks to destroy the plastic lids. Vandals were pulling the boxes out of the ground. Vandals were prying the lids open with screwdrivers or other pointed implements.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,206, issued Oct. 4, 1994 to Fejes, shows an in-ground storage container arranged for the storage of various components for emergency use relative to natural disasters, wherein the container structure is of a generally pyramidal configuration having removable storage housings positioned therewithin. The storage container includes a hingedly-attached lid member that is arranged for latching relative to the storage container permitting limited access thereto. The lid is provided with a latch receiving structure to receive a latch lug rotated by means of a key.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,921,449, issued Nov. 25, 1975 to Hauffe, describes a meter box for fluid meter equipment which is made of structural foam polyethylene. The meter includes a side wall enclosure with a base plate secured to the bottom thereof. The top of the enclosure is open and has an inwardly directed flange across the top thereof. A meter lid is positioned on and supported by the flange portion of the side enclosure. The meter lid includes a central opening into which is rotatably positioned a reader lid. The reader lid includes a latch member on the underside thereof which is normally biased into a locking position to secure the reader lid in a closed position. When the reader lid is to be opened, a key is inserted through an aperture in the lid and between the sides of a U-shaped rod to which the latch is connected. The key is rotated against the edge of the aperture to force the latch inwardly against the bias of a spring to thereby unlock the reader lid. The latch includes a cammed surface which bears against the edge of the periphery of the aperture in the meter lid when the reader lid is closed. The latch is forced inwardly to permit closure of the lid. The latching arrangement for the meter lid is of the same construction as that of the reader lid.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,555, issued May 11, 2004 to Nielsen, is for a lock for a meter box lid. A securing mechanism is provided that can be attached to a conventional meter box lid which does not require the lid to be redesigned. The securing mechanism comprises a holding member attached to the latch on the underside of the lid. A threaded aperture is formed in said holding member. A bolt having a threaded shaft is extended through the upper wall of the lid from the top side to be secured into the threaded aperture of the holding member for preventing a key from moving the latch member to a release position. In the embodiment disclosed, the bolt has a head with two spaced apart apertures formed therein for receiving two prong of tool for allowing the bolt shaft to be screwed into and from the threaded aperture for locking and release purposes.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,482,030, issued Dec. 2, 1969 to Wisniewski, discloses a flush mounted receptacle for use in the earth which comprises an outer housing that is buried, an inner inverted housing which prevents the rise of water therein and a removable lid. The inner housing is retained in place by a locking bar which prevents unauthorized access.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,490,637, issued Jan. 20, 1970 to Pope, puts forth a utility marker box which has a removable cover which is held in place by a projection on a first edge thereof and a spring-biased latch on a second edge thereof.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,240, issued May 31, 2005 to Dang, illustrates a subgrade vault which provides an enclosed housing for utility connections. The housing is made of a moldable material with a reinforcing skirt at one end and a seat in the other. A lid is received in the seat to close its upper end. A clip is optionally provided for fastening the lid to the housing body that can be clipped on the body and engaged by a fastener carried by the lid.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,755, issued Jan. 7, 1975 to Tellen, claims a meter box having a body portion adapted to be buried in the ground, with a cover adapted to be at surface level. In the embodiments shown, the cover is rectangular, and is hinged at one end to the said body portion of the box. A locking member is secured to the under side of the cover, and is pivotally mounted on either a horizontal or vertical axis. The locking member includes a cammed latch for engaging a flange on the box body. In accordance with the invention, the locking member includes a slightly flexible spring portion which is confined against a rigid strengthening rib formed on the under side of the cover. The locking member also includes a surface portion engageable by a tool inserted through the top cover wall. Pivoting of the tool will cause the locking member to pivot on its axis, thereby bending the spring against the said rigid rib so that the latch will be released.

Three U.S. Pat. No. 4,153,176 issued May 8, 1979; U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,020 issued Dec. 27, 1977; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,952,908 issued Apr. 27, 1976 to Carson, disclose a meter box having rotatable cover and interlocking means. The meter box comprises an open upper top with an upwardly extending rim member. On the inside surface of the meter box are means for supporting a cover forming a ledge member. The cover is arranged and configured to rest on the ledge confronting the rim of the box so as to substantially close the open top of the box. Disposed on the exterior of the meter box are a plurality of anchor tabs. A horizontal member is disposed between two anchor tabs adjacent the top of the meter box which enables the box to be secured in concrete and the like. The cover may be a substantially round member or may comprise first and second sections and means for rotatably joining the first and second sections together. The first section having outwardly extending protrusions which engage slots on the meter box so as to render the first section substantially immovable therein. The second section having an opening which enables the user to lift the second section off the top of the meter box and move it about the rotation means whereby the meter box is selectively opened and closed.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,575, issued Oct. 10, 1989 to Kobilan, indicates a protective housing structure for underground devices, such as valves, meters and the like which includes a base assembly constructed as an upstanding wall with an open bottom and open top. A lid encloses the top and may snap-fit into the base assembly. The base assembly is constructed so that a plurality of housing structures may be ganged together. To this end, opposite end walls are preferably flat and are oriented vertically of the bottom. Interlock structure is provided on each end wall, for example, one endwall may be configured as a dovetail tongue and the other end wall as a dovetail channel that mateably receives the tongue on an adjacent end wall. The end walls also may be selectively cut and removed to form a slot for longitudinal conduits, pipes and the like. The sidewalls of the base assembly are formed each of an upper panel and a lower panel. The lower panel is preferably constructed as a plurality of panel sections connected to one another along linear regions of reduced wall thickness, and the lower panel is connected to the upper panel along a linear region of reduced wall thickness. An installer may make a pair of spaced-apart incisions to one linear region to form a flap that may be deflected from the sidewall to create a sidewall opening for transverse conduit.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,503, issued Aug. 7, 1979 to McKinnon, shows a rectangular shape lid for closing a rectangular shaped top opening of a water meter housing. The lid is formed of plastic material and has a seating surface on its lower side for engaging the upper edge of the housing for support purposes. This feature allows the lid to fit housings having different size openings. Lower supporting ridges are formed on the lower side of the lid in such a manner that they allow the lid to fit housings having different radius of curvature at the corners. Hooks are provided on opposite ends of the lid for securing the lid to the housing. Also provided is a housing formed of plastic material. The housing has an upper edge formed by inner and outer ridges which define the top opening. The inner and outer ridges are joined together at a position below the upper edge and extend away from each other in an upward direction. Connecting ribs extend between the inner and outer ridges to form a strong upper edge for supporting a lid.

What is needed is a tamper-proof and vandal-proof irrigation box which prevents removal of the box from the ground and prevents destruction or prying open of the box lid.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a tamper-proof and vandal-proof irrigation box having outwardly tapering sides toward the bottom and a horizontal flange extending outwardly around the base which prevent removal of the box from the ground and a metal lid with a pin-type hinge and sliding bolt lock extending perpendicularly into the box prevent destruction or prying open of the box lid.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an irrigation box which is easily opened and locked by inserting a proper key in the lock on the lid.

In brief, the present invention comprises a tamper-proof irrigation box formed in a truncated four-sided pyramid shape with the sides tapering outwardly from the top to the bottom and a flange extending outwardly around the base to prevent the box from being pulled out of the ground. A metal lid prevents breakage of the lid and the lid has a sliding pin type lock operated by a key having a metal horizontal pin or bolt that extends perpendicularly into a horizontal hole in the side of the box to help prevent from someone sticking a screwdriver or other tool in to pry the lid open. The metal lid also has a horizontal pin type hinge to prevent tampering.

An advantage of the present invention is that it cannot easily be pulled out of the ground.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the lid cannot be easily destroyed.

One more advantage of the present invention is that the lid cannot be pried open.

An additional advantage of the present invention is that the lock cannot be easily picked or tampered with.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the tamper-proof irrigation box of the present invention showing the closed and locked lid attached by a hinge;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the tamper-proof irrigation box of FIG. 1 showing the closed and locked lid attached by a pivot pin;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tamper-proof irrigation box of FIG. 1 showing the lid closed and locked;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tamper-proof irrigation box of FIG. 3 showing the lid unlocked and open;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tamper-proof irrigation box of FIG. 1 showing the lid closed and locked with the box shown in the ground.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1-5, a tamper-proof irrigation box 10 comprises a tamper proof lid 30 and a firmly planted irrigation box 20.

The hollow rigid box 20 houses at least one valve and at least one pipe for an irrigation system in the interior space 29. The hollow rigid box 20 has four sides 21 and 24 which slant outwardly from a narrower top to a wider bottom and a horizontal flange 26 extending outwardly around the base to prevent the box from being pulled out of the ground, and a recessed interior ledge 25 around a perimeter of a top opening 28 in the box 20. The box 20 preferably comprises a truncated four-sided pyramid shape with the sides tapering outwardly from the top to the bottom.

The metal planar lid 30 rests on the recessed interior ledge 25 within the perimeter of the top opening 28 so that a top of the lid 21 is aligned with a top edge of the top opening 28, the lid comprising a rigid planar element to seal the top opening closed.

A sliding pin lock 32 is installed in the lid 20 centrally positioned along a first edge of the lid. The lock 32 comprises a horizontal slidable pin 34 reversibly extending out from and retracting into the first edge parallel to the top of the lid and perpendicular to the first edge of the lid and perpendicular to a first side of the box into a horizontal hole in a first side of the box. The sliding pin lock 32 is operated by a key 33 in a key opening on a top of the lock to lock the lid 30 in place on the box 20 and alternately unlock the lid to access an interior 29 of the box.

A tamper-proof hinge may comprise a horizontal pin type hinge 35A, as shown in FIG. 2 or an enclosed horizontal hinge 35, as shown in FIG. 1, either pivotally interconnecting a second edge of the lid with a second side of the box.

In use, the tamper-proof irrigation box 20 is easily opened by a key in the lock 32 to lift the lid 30 to access the interior space 29 which houses the water valves and water pipes. The shape of the box 20 with a wider bottom 23 and extending flanges 26 is resistant to being pulled out of the ground. The metal lid 30 with the horizontal pin lock 32 and tamper proof hinge 35 or 35A prevents prying open the lid 30 or jimmying open the lock 32.

It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed. 

1. A tamper-proof irrigation box device comprising: a hollow rigid box housing at least one valve and at least one pipe for an irrigation system, the hollow rigid box having sides which slant outwardly from a narrower top to a wider bottom and a horizontal flange extending outwardly around the base to prevent the box from being pulled out of the ground, and a recessed interior ledge around a perimeter of a top opening in the box; a metal planar lid resting on the recessed interior ledge within the perimeter of the top opening so that a top of the lid is aligned with a top edge of the top opening, the lid comprising a rigid planar element to seal the top opening closed; a sliding pin lock installed in the lid centrally positioned along a first edge of the lid, the lock comprising a horizontal slidable pin reversibly extending out from and retracting into the first edge parallel to the top of the lid and perpendicular to the first edge of the lid and perpendicular to a first side of the box into a horizontal hole in a first side of the box, the sliding pin lock operated by a key in a key opening on a top of the lock to lock the lid in place on the box and alternately unlock the lid to access an interior of the box; and a tamper-proof hinge pivotally interconnecting a second edge of the lid with a second side of the box.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the box comprises a truncated four-sided pyramid shape with the sides tapering outwardly from the top to the bottom.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the tamper-proof hinge comprises a horizontal pin type hinge.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the tamper-proof hinge comprises an enclosed horizontal hinge. 